The Life of Oliver Hazard Perry, with an Appendix, Comprising a Biographical Memoir of the Late Captain James Lawrence; with Brief Sketches of the Most Prominent Events in the Lives of Commodores Bainbridge, Decatur, Porter and Macdonough. A View of the Rise, Present Condition, and Future Prospects of the Navy of the United States -- A List of the Officers of the Navy -- and Vessels of War of the United States, to Which is Added, a Biography of General Pike, and a View of the Leading Events in the Life of General Harrison

First edition. Sabin 55320. Howes N157. Rebound in red cloth with new end sheets, original red morocco spine labels laid down. Lacks portion of fold-out, and appears to be missing another portrait (Howes calls for three plates, and this copy includes a frontispiece engraving of Perry, and the portion of the fold-out). Moderate foxing and transfer throughout, ink name and light stain on corner of front flyleaf. 1820 Hard Cover. xii, 376 pp. 12mo. An important and extensive account of the life of an important figure in United States military history. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (August 23, 1785 – August 23, 1819) was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, the son of Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander. He was an older brother to Matthew Calbraith Perry. As a boy, he lived in South Carolina, sailing ships practicing for his future career as an officer in the US Navy. He served in the War of 1812 against Britain, and earned the title Hero of Lake Erie for leading American forces in a decisive naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie. Perry is descended from Scotland's national hero, William Wallace. Educated in Newport, Rhode Island, Perry was appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy on April 7, 1799. During the Quasi-War with France, he was assigned to his father's frigate, the USS General Greene. He first experienced combat on February 9, 1800, off the coast of the French colony of Haiti, which was in a state of rebellion. During the First Barbary War, he initially served on the USS Adams and later commanded USS Nautilus during the capture of Derna. At Perry's request during the War of 1812, he was given command of United States naval forces on Lake Erie. He supervised the building of a small fleet at Dobbin's Landing in Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pennsylvania. On September 10, 1813, Perry's fleet defended against an attacking British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie. Perry's flagship, the USS Lawrence, was destroyed in the encounter and Perry was rowed a half-mile through heavy gunfire to transfer command to the USS Niagara, carrying his battle flag (reading DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP, the final words of Captain James Lawrence). Perry's battle report to General William Henry Harrison was famously brief: We have met the enemy and they are ours; two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop. At one point in time Perry's ship was so battle-scared that it was barely afloat and almost on it's side, a British frigate sailed to meet Perry's ship. The British Admiral offered to let Perry surrender. Don't Give Up The Ship!! yelled Perry, and replied to the British Admiral's offer with a barrage of cannon balls. In the end, the British Admiral surrendered his ship. His victory opened Canada up to possible invasion, while simultaneously protecting the entire Ohio Valley. It was one of only two significant fleet victories of the war, along with the Battle of Plattsburgh. In 1819, during an expedition to Venezuela's Orinoco River Oliver Hazard Perry died of yellow fever contracted from mosquitos while aboard the Nonsuch. He was 34 years old. Perry's remains were buried in Port of Spain, Trinidad, but were later taken back to the United States and interred in Newport, Rhode Island. After resting briefly in the Old Common Burial Ground, his body was moved a final time to Newport's Island Cemetery, where his brother Matthew C. Perry is also interred. On May 5, 1811 he married twenty year old Elizabeth Champlin Mason at Newport, Rhode Island. The dashing young naval officer first encountered his future bride at a dance four years earlier. The newlyweds enjoyed an extended honeymoon, leisurely touring the New England states. Eventually the union, always described as a happy one, would produce five children, one of whom died in infancy.

Title: The Life of Oliver Hazard Perry, with an Appendix, Comprising a Biographical Memoir of the Late Captain James Lawrence; with Brief Sketches of the Most Prominent Events in the Lives of Commodores Bainbridge, Decatur, Porter and Macdonough. A View of the Rise, Present Condition, and Future Prospects of the Navy of the United States -- A List of the Officers of the Navy -- and Vessels of War of the United States, to Which is Added, a Biography of General Pike, and a View of the Leading Events in the Life of General Harrison